Daniel Miller: From the Field to the Stage

There’s been a terrible crackdown on drag shows of late, but given its history, it will be hard for even the most uptight folks to object to the Quintessence Theatre Group’s latest production — a highly anticipated production of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” on stage this March and April at the Sedgwick Theater in Mt. Airy. In a reflection of original Shakespearean casting, the “Macbeth” cast of 11 is all male-identifying. Fitting for our times, Macbeth chronicles the ends to which one couple will go to grab and hold political power, and the destruction that follows. Quintessence Producing Artistic Director Alex Burns is directing and acclaimed Shakespearean actor Scott Parkinson will play Lady Macbeth.

Taking the lead role is this week’s Portrait, Daniel Miller. Miller is a multi-talented actor who has been seen in several Quintessence productions: “Mary Poppins,” “The Playboy of The Western World,” “The Broken Heart,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and more. Other credits include “Beauty and the Beast” and “Rocky the Musical” at the Walnut Street Theatre as well as “Jersey Boys,” “Chicago,” “A Chorus Line” and the China tour of “Legally Blonde.”

I had to giggle at one of the effusive reviews on his website: “(Daniel Miller, one of the hunkiest actors for miles) — takes the hero by his waist, lifts him up, face to face, and then slowly, very slowly, slides Christy’s body down his own body. Stunned, the audience screamed, gasped, and laughed.” Miller took time from a rehearsal to chat about his latest role. 

I noticed that your phone number has an area code from out west.
Yes, I’m originally from Sugar Land, Texas, born and raised. It’s about 20 minutes from the downtown Houston area with its great double loop. I grew up in what was called Old Sugar Land, which was the original area that was built around the sugar factories. The area I lived in was just outside of the housing for those early factory workers. The city has grown immensely since I lived there. There used to be a lot of farmland and every time I go back to visit, that seems to be shrinking. 

Tell me about the family.
I’m one of four children, so a family of six. The eldest is my brother and I have two sisters. I’m third in the lineup. My extended family, especially on my father’s side, is quite massive as the Catholics would have it. 

You must have fun family reunions!
Oh yes! We call it Miller Mania. 

I love that. I noticed that you had stage combat, boxing, football and baseball as skills on your resume. Were you into sports as a kid?
Definitely. It was my bread and butter growing up. As you can imagine, in the Houston/Texas area, sports were king. I played almost everything at some point or another, but football was my number-1 sport. I played it from the time I was about 6 to the time I was 18. I almost went to college for it but then had a change of intention. 

What position did you play?
Over the course of the years, I played a number of positions: middle linebacker, defensive end, full back, tight end. Those are all positions where you needed to be large but also agile. 

[Laughing] You don’t look that big, but of course I’m only seeing you sitting down!
It’s deceiving! I’m 6’ 2” and I was bulkier back then. 

Just one more sports question: How do you think being an athlete influenced your career in theater?
I think it had a big impact. The way I like to approach things is definitely from a physical perspective. Movement and combat and even dance are all influenced by my background as an athlete even though I didn’t formally study dance until I was in college. 

Where did you go to college?
I went to Stephen F. Austin State University. I’d decided to completely dive into theater so I enrolled there and graduated with a BFA in Performance: Acting & Directing. I was really proud of it because I got into the school on merit for academics. I’d been in the top 9% of my class. SFA wasn’t my dream school but it turned out to be a great choice because being a smaller school, I got to do everything — acting, directing, designing, etc. It also offered me an opportunity to study abroad at Rose Bruford College in London and at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn, Estonia.

When did you first get the acting bug?
I got it when I was very young, but I didn’t have the opportunity to pursue it. We were a sports family and that’s where all our efforts and extracurricular energy went. But I clearly remember all the performances I’d put on in the living room for my parents and family. I did express an interest in those things, kind of, with a ‘Well, what if I tried something more creative…’ and that got channeled into gymnastics, which did add a level of artistry and a different connection to my body. But it wasn’t until high school that I was able to start pursuing acting. Luckily the main plays took place during the off season for football! I’d stopped playing baseball and some friends said, “We need more guys to audition for the plays!” So I did and got cast and that was the start! 

A jock who could sing and dance. You must have been in high demand!
[Laughing] I was living “High School Musical” in real life! It was pretty incredible in that respect. 

What was your first big or professional job?
While I was in college, I had the incredible fortune to get chosen as an acting intern at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. It was an amazing chance to do real professional repertory theater…in the heat of summer in Texas! As you can imagine, I was in great shape! But truly, to be doing repertory that early in my career helped me grow immensely, just being around the older professionals was informative and I got to do a number of productions, including “Macbeth,” so this is really a full-circle moment. 

What brought you to the east coast?
When I finished college, I was ready to move to NY as many actors do. My time abroad helped take away that fear of living in a new city. As I was looking into it, I was sending out casting call submissions and got offered a remote audition, which was pretty rare at the time. It was for “Mother Courage and her Children” here at Quintessence Theatre. I was offered the job and I started talking to people and got the word that Philadelphia had a really great theater scene. So I thought, “OK, I’ll stop and check out Philadelphia on my way to NY.” That was 2016…

And we kept you!
Yes! And that was my first show with Alex Burns, the Producing Artistic Director and my soon-to-be husband! 

Nice! So how hard was coming out for you?
It was hard, and it ties in with my sports experience as so many things do. I think I was about 16 or 17 when I started discovering it for myself and I very secretively started coming out to some of my friends. Being a — I’d guess you’d say — notable football team member and sports jock at a school where my father also taught math and coached in almost every sport, I was concerned about the news getting to him before I had a chance to say something or before I was ready to come out. And there was fear of the reaction from my football family, the guys I grew up playing with in a small town in Texas. Unfortunately, rumors began spreading and it wasn’t the easiest or nicest time. Coming from a Catholic family didn’t help. I was so scared that I began to shut myself off from everybody. My teachers were starting to take note and were worried so they went to my father to express their concern. He approached me and of course, I told him I was fine, just fine. It took some time — and I won’t belabor the details — but it took me some time until I got to the point where I could say that I was going to be who I was going to be and that I didn’t need to be ashamed. I started telling more friends and my siblings (who were fine) and then my parents. The biggest reaction from everyone was shock, because there were no clues, but then I received overwhelming support. With my parents, it wasn’t as easy at the time. It’s hard for any parents to completely adjust their expectations of who their child is going to be, but the message was still first, “we will always love you” and now they’re totally onboard and love and adore Alex! 

I’ve been around this community for decades and yet when my (at the time) 16-year-old nephew came out to me, I was totally shocked. He was so “straight acting,” he even flew under my gaydar!
I can relate. I think people sometimes don’t realize the weight that those who some people think are the lucky ones because they can pass (whether they’re trying to or not), are carrying. People have such expectations for you and who they think you are. As you can imagine, being in a locker room, dealing with a hyper-masculine atmosphere and — in my experience — very homophobic environment, weighs heavy on the heart. 

I’m sure. Let’s talk a little about the show and what makes it so special.
Well, the show was written by Mr. William Shakespeare and it’s one that I’ve alway adored. This role is a dream role that’s been on my mind for quite some time. It’s a chance to tap into that inner child who loves to swing swords and speak with the supernatural and take over a country to become king!  We have special effects designers, who are going to bring to life the supernatural and horror elements of the play. And I get to do it with a dream cast which, in the Shakespearean tradition, is all male. We’ve started rehearsals and they’ve assembled an amazing group with different talents and energies and spirits. It’s really exciting! To be working with Scott Parkinson as Lady Macbeth is incredible. 

And I understand that you have a decent relationship with the director as well.
Yes! I would hope so and hopefully by the end of this, it’s still intact since we’re engaged to be married! This is the first time Alex and I have worked together with me in a titular role, but we’ve worked on about six shows previously. In fact, that’s how we met, so our relationship and interactions have all been about creativity and theater as well as love and romance. 

I understand that this will be a little departure for you because most people around here are used to seeing you singing and dancing.
[Laughing] Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to be regularly employed in musical theater as there’s quite a bit of that work around. I was just on stage at the Walnut Street Theatre in “Beauty and the Beast” over the holidays. And the last time I was at Quintessence, I was in the production of “Mary Poppins.” So, yeah, it’s been a minute since people have seen me in a non-singing role! 

“Mary Poppins” was one of my favorite shows all year. You guys did an incredible job. Let’s switch to a few random questions. You and Alex are engaged. Who proposed?
He did! I was in between summer contracts and we went up to P-town — Provincetown — for the 4th of July weekend. He surprised me on one of our regular hikes to Long Point which goes up to the lighthouse. I may have been a little hungover from celebrating my break between shows but it was perfect timing. I was totally surprised. 

What was the first gay bar you went into?
I was in college, and it was a nightclub called South Beach in Houston. It was in Montrose, which is the Gayborhood there. Unbeknownst to me, it was a foam party night, so I was not appropriately dressed. 

Who would you contact at a séance?
Oh, good one! I think I’d like to talk to some of the pioneers of the LGBT community — elders like Harvey Milk or Bayard Rustin — those who we’ve lost but really forged the path. 

A favorite line from “Macbeth”?
“Come what come may/ Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” It’s a theme for me as we’re working through the show, a kind of metaphor for finding new things and that whatever happens, is going to happen. 

And why should people come out and see this production of Macbeth?
It’s going to be fabulous! And horrifying and magical. We’re doing some serious storytelling with a few surprises for those who know the play well. 

And will there be a hunky Daniel Miller moment in this show?
Hopefully! We’ll see what the costumes reveal!

“Macbeth” plays March 14-April 21 at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave. For tickets and more information, visit quintessencetheatre.org. For more on Daniel Miller, visit iamdanielmiller.com.